“There is a police operation up on Manus at the moment. We’re very keen for people to move out of the Manus Regional Processing Centre.

“I think it’s outrageous that people are still there. They have trashed the facility.

“They’re living in squalor and the Australian taxpayers have paid about $10-million for a new facility and we want people to move.”

Prominent Australians have written to the Prime Minister and Opposition leader asking for the men to receive medical attention.

“They think by staying that somehow they’re going to exert pressure on us, and some of them believe if there’s violence with police the footage will be broadcast back here and that will twist our arm and we’ll change the policy position.

“Under no circumstance will these people be coming to Australia and that’s a final decision.”